Education today focuses on rights. Everyone has a right. And we fight for our rights. But perhaps that is the problem.
If we all have rights, what happens when I feel differently than you. Who’s right wins?
Today’s society is not built on any solid definition of good vs evil. It’s built on subjective feelings and self-interests. Images that awaken sensational emotions. Politicians trying to gain votes. Businessmen using policy to advance their funding opportunities. Oil and global trade control more justice decisions than morals do.
It’s time we stop the nonsense. We don’t have rights. We have responsibilities.
Every human was created in the image of the Creator. We are endowed with the responsibility to make this world a better and more peaceful one. That’s our responsibility.
The Creator made a universe where evil exists. Evil doesn’t see a purpose in each human. The Egyptians were evil; they enslaved a nation. They refused to see themselves as serving the Creator. They wanted to pretend that they were the creator. Ultimately, they drowned and met their Creator in the Red Sea.
Evil exists. There are, and always will be, humans who see themselves as the center and everyone else as a cancer. But evil must be eliminated.
Our youth need an absolute education, not one that “depends on context”. Good and evil need to be defined. The focus should lay on our responsibilities, not rights.
Education can shift the focus from being Me-centric to Other-centric. And it starts at the very beginning.
From a young age, children are taught to say Modeh Ani as soon as they wake up. Beginning our day with a thank you for being alive in this world. Starting each day with a feeling of gratitude to the Creator goes a long way. And as adults, we need it too!
That is real education.
We, as parents, need to educate. We have a rich Jewish heritage, we have a responsibility to share it!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
